I have to acknowledge & thank Alice (Moreshead) Grant (1930-?) the family’s earliest known Moreshead Genealogist in PEI, and also my Aunt Phyllis (Stevenson) McGuirk who shared with me both of their notes. This has allowed me a solid base to expand upon & solidify with various sources. Without their work, it would have been an impossible task.

John Moreshed was born on Feb 27 in Menheniott, Cornwall, England. He was christened on Jun 17 1806 in Menheniott, Cornwall, England[i], son of Nicholas Moreshead & Elizabeth Hicks. He died on Jan 19 1885 and was buried in Bethel Cemetery where the date is marked on his grave. His stone states he was 87 yrs old which would mean his birth was in 1798. John married Catherine Cummings daughter William Cummings & Mary Eddie near or in North River, Rustico, aka Lot 32, but no record has been viewed or confirmed by the writer. Many other sources throughout this writing confirm this marriage, but the date is in question. Notes in my possession indicate the record exists and states the marriage took place on Nov 7 1831, however this is exactly a year after the birth of their oldest son William which doesn’t seem probable.

Catherine was born about 1800 in Newfoundland, Canada[ii]. She came to PEI with her parents when she was 9[iii]. She died on Apr 19 1896 in West Devon, PEI at age 96 and was buried in Bethel Cemetery where the date is marked on her stone.
A few other interesting tidbits of John should be able to be located in the following: John Morshead recorded a constable in the Royal Gazette, page 4, March 13 1832; John Moreshead recorded as juror in the Pye inquest on Jan 2 1837; John Moreshead appointed to distribute seed in the May 14 1847 Edition of the Islander, page 2.

In a compilation written by Alice (Moreshead) Grant in June 1977 – she states a lot of information was given to her by her cousin (Pearle MacNeill) MacPhee, “but most of the credit is due to my dear cousin Mrs Ada Chisholm, who at 92 years of age who possesses an unusual remarkable memory, took an interest in my project and gave me the bulk of the information from memory which I was easily able to verify, so this fine lady the family should be forever grateful, as without her help and interest, much of this information would be lost.”

It is rumored in the family notes that John & Catherine named Lot 10 “West Devon” after their origins or home in Devonshire England. This compiler has found no evidence to support this claim. Although it seems possible they may have named it – being (it seems) the first couple there – an origin of Devonshire has not been found on the Morshead side, perhaps the Cummings line will indicate Devonshire – it is unknown at the moment. Or perhaps this might be a bit of an exaggeration.

In short summary, it appears John & Catherine left North River Cross Roads in North Rustico & traveled up the river by canoe in the early 1830’s and settled in the area of Goff’s Bridge the first year, then moved up the river the next year to the mouth of Mary’s Creek, known as Lot 10. There they settled – perhaps – naming it West Devon. The notes kind of get a little confusing here as they seem to conflict a little bit – but it seems it was a large farm with the house being on one part of it. “Some years later” John traded the half the farm with the house to a ship builder named Mr Miller of Springfield for part or all of his farm in Springfield, and left the remaining portion of the West Devon farm with his son Edward. The house that was originally traded was later moved up on the other part of the original farm that had been left with Edward by Mrs Mary Trednick [dau of Joseph, granddaughter of John who had come into possession of it. That same house somehow ended up in the owner ship of John MacLean in 1977 who was John’s granddaughter Elizabeth’s grandson- that farm being off Ashton Rd – if I am understanding it correctly. Unfortunately I have no details on dates or land records or anything of the sort – If anyone does I would be most grateful if they were shared with me.

So – that now places John & Catherine in Springfield, but as to when they first arrived there – I do not know except to say from the census records it was after 1861 & before 1881. John & Catherine’s Springfield Farm was said to be willed to her grandson James upon her death, however I have not seen, nor do I have a transcription of her will. James’s son Albert, still lived on that farm in Aug of 1977.

It is further said in Alice’s notes that “Before his death, John provided each of his 10 children with farms, and the 1880 Atlas shows farms for all his family.” Again, the compiler has not seen deeds to confirm these lands were actually conveyed by John to his family – but I would like to. “In Lot 7, George Moorshead – 53 and 3/4 acres, Nicholas Moorshead 53 and 3/4 acres; Lot 8: John Moorshead 50 acres, Benjamin Kane (Sophia) 50 acres, Nicholas Moorshead 50 acres in Knutsford, in Lot 8 George Moorshead 50 acres, Nicholas Moreshead 50 acres, John Moorshead 100 acres, Lot 10 Edward Moorshead 98 acres [Ashton Rd 1877 owned by John MacLean], also a woodlot of 365 acres in the Percival River area Lot 10. Joseph Moorshead 50 acres in West Devon and 115 acres by the Trout River on the Moorshead Rd, William Vincent (Elizabeth) 50 acres in Lot 10; in Lot 9 Brae, Laughlin MacLean (Mary) 88 1/2 acres. Dr. James Shaw (Catherine) 46 acres in Lot 6 – this property is still in the Shaw name [1977]. Lots 4 & 5 have two lots of Land in Alberton in Edward’s name. ”

The following quote is from notes that were given to my Aunt Phyllis (Stevenson) McGuirk by J. Watson McNaught, as they were given by his father, Robert McNaught who was born in the early 1870’s, the husband of Emily Laura Moreshead, dau of John Moreshead & Mary Ann Vincent. Robert was said to have & had an excellent memory. He possibly knew Catherine, and definitely knew her children & grandchildren.
“Back about the year 1830, a young man by the name of John Moreshead of North River, PEI, placed his wife and infant son and the few effects that they possessed in a canoe at Rustico, and taking the advice of Horace Greely– go west young man go west — launched forth to seek a home in the western part of the island. He skirted the shores of Cavendish and New London, paddling across the Malpeque Bay and Richmond Bay, then up through the narrows — passed the Block Banks, rounded Lot 6 Point and proceeded up to Township No. 10.

The first winter he stayed at what is now known as Goff’s Bridge. The following spring he moved up the river to the mouth of Mary’s Creek. Here he settled on a point of land, and began carrying out a home in the wilderness. For the first year his wife did not see the face of a white woman. Here he remained for a number of years and by a strange coincidence the farm is still in the possession of a great-grandson, Milton MacLean (now deceased) whose wife, nee Bertha Laguffe, is also a great great granddaughter of the same man.” The 1987 Moreshead Reunion Notes, compiled by Alice (Moreshead) Grant, state:
“In about 1977 John McLean lived on the original Moreshead Farm in West Devon. [The road leading to this farm is Ashton Rd] The house he lived in was “part of the original ship-building house, which was hauled from Mary’s Creek to where it now stands. The laths in the house are hand split, so it was built before laths were machine-made. The date when it was built is unknown, but it is most likely 150 years old. When Percy Tredenick bought part of the farm that the first settler John Moorshed, traded with Mr. Miller (the ship builder), Mrs. Mary Tredenick [dau of Joseph, granddaughter of John] hauled the house up the river and remodeled it, building some on it. When Huber MacLean ([Johnny’s grandfather) bought it, he added a bathroom, and it was the first house in West Devon to have a bathroom & running water. I [Alice] well recall the gasoline engine that provided the power.”

The Last Will & Testament of John Moorshead of O’Leary Road Settlement Township No. Eight Prince Co. PE Island, Farmer.“First, I Will and Bequeath to my grandson James Moorshead the sum of ten dollars to be paid at my death. Secondly, I Will and Bequeath to my nine children – William, John, George, Joseph, Edward, Sophia Jane, Elizabeth, Catherine Caroline and Nicholas the sum of one dollar each. Thirdly, I Will and Bequeath to my wife Catherine for her sole use and benefit my farm consisting of fifty acres of freehold land a little more or less and being situated on the south side of the O’Leary Road in Township No. 8 together will all appurtenances, stock, farming implements and everything pertaining thereto provided that the summs irreviousky mentioned in this will together with all my just debts be paid therefrom- Fourthly, I hereby appoint my wife Catherine the Sole Executrix to the My Last Will and Testament. Signed Sealed & Delivered This Twenty Second Day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-Four. [signed] John X Moorshead, Winesses James Mattex, John Keir Ramsay”
Proven in Probate Court 48th Vic- A.D. – Feb 4 1885Children of John Moreshead & Catherine Cummings detailed below
1. William Morshead b. 1830
2. John Mooreshead b. 1833
3. Mary Morshead b. 1835
4. Nicholas Mooreshead b. 1837
5. George Moreshed b. 1839-1840
6. Elizabeth Moreshed b. 1842
7. Edward Moreshed b. 1843I
8. Joseph Moreshed b. 1847
9. Catherine Caroline Morshed b. 1849
10. Sophia Jane Moreshed b. 1852

1. William Morshead was born on Nov 7 1830 in North River, and was baptized on Sep 8 1832 by L.C. Jenkins at St. Paul’s church in Charlottetown[iv]. He died Jan 1 1902 at the age of 79 according to his grave stone in United Cemetery, West Devon, PEI. His wife Margaret [McLean[v]] died Aug 1 1862, age 36, according to the same grave stone as William. Alice’s notes indicate she died Aug 11 and that she was the third daughter of John MacLean of Brae, Lot 9, and they were married at St Eleanors on Jan 9 1856 as it was recorded in the Islander [newspaper] Jan 18 1856. William who married 2nd Widow Sophia (Williams) Cornish.
He was able to be found on in 1861, 1891 & 1901, but I was unable to find him in 1881 with children listed. The census notes for him are here[vi].
William Moreshead & Margaret McLean had:i. John Nelson Moreshead b. about July 10 1860, bpt Sep 2 1860 by J. Butcher in United Church O’Leary book 1 pg 27, son of William “Moreshade” & Margaret[vii]. He died Oct 2 1861 aged 15 months – marked with his parentsii. Jennie Moreshead m: ______ Sprague, and had a family[viii]iii. Mary Annie Moreshead m: John Mac Dougall. They had 12 children[ix]. Only 3 are known to the compiler: Charlie MacDougall- lived in O’Leary[x]; Bliss MacDougall lived in O’Leary[xi]; Minnie MacDougal b. 1881 d. Apr 28 1901 Boston, MA[xii]; Most of the daughters are said to have lived in the USA[xiii]
William Moreshead & Sophia (Williams) Cornish had:iv. Thomas Edward Moreshade b. Apr 5 1864 bpt Jul 3 1864 by J. Butcher at the United Church in O’Leary, son of William Moreshade & Sophia Book 1 pg 47[xiv].v. Charlotte McNaught Moreshead b. Aug 8 1865 bpt Feb 3 1866 by I. Ashley in United Church in O’Leary dau of Wm & Sophia[xv]vi. Alexander “James” Moreshead b. Jan 18 1871 bpt Jun 7 1873 by J.G. Yelland at United Church in O’Leary, son of William Moreshead & Sophia Williams, Book 1 pg 74[xvi]. James married Almeda/Alma Adams on July 30 1902by W.H. Smith[xvii] They are both buried in Bethel Cemetery. The grave states James b. Jan 18 1871 d. Jun 15 1951. Almeda d. April 11, 1966 a87. Children: George Raymond Moreshead b. Dec 26 1902, bp Mar 9 1903 by D. MacLean at the United Church in O’Leary, book 2[xviii] m: Jennie Ladner[xix]; Waldo Bernard Moreshead b. May 8 1904 in Springfield Lot 8, bpt Aug 14 1904 by D. MacLean at the United Church in O’Leary Bk 2[xx] m: Elsie MacFarlane[xxi]; Margaret Hazel Moreshead b. Dec 25 1905, bpt Aug 15 1908 by A.D. McLeod at United Church West Cape bk 1 pg 175[xxii] d. before 1987[xxiii];Lila Belle Moreshead b. Aug 6 1907, bpt Aug 15 1908 by A.D. McLeod at the United Church in West Cape bk 1 pg 175[xxiv] m: Richard Noyes Ingles[xxv]; Arthur James Moreshead b. Apr 6 1909, bp Apr 22 1914 by G.A. Sellar at the United Church at West Cape[xxvi]. He married & had children[xxvii]; Albert Lloyd Moreshead b. Feb 10 1911, bp Apr 22 1914 by G.A. Sellar at the United Church on West Cape, Bk 1 pg 188[xxviii], never married, lived on the original homestead in Springfield. He died Sept 6 1997 according to his grave in Bethel Cemetery; Jennie May Moreshead b. May 4 1913, bp Apr 22 1914 by G.A. Sellar at the United Church at West Cape Bk 1 pg 188[xxix]. He married & had children[xxx]

2. John Mooreshead was born on June 24 1833 in Lot 32, and was baptized on Mar 19 1834 by L.C. Jenkins at St. Paul’s Church in Charlottetown[xxxi]. see previous blog

6. Elizabeth Moreshed was born on May 30 1842 according to the 1901 Canadian Census[cxx]. Alice Grant mentions bible records courtesy of Albert Lloyd Moreshead, son of James, who was the son of Elizabeth’s brother William. I also have a set of notes that indicate they are from the bible of Joseph, son of John & Catherine, but they specifically say that they appear to be written all at once after the fact. Those notes say she was born May 30 1845. I’m not really sure if these are from the same bible Alice is talking about or not. It seems there may have been a few bibles. Sophia was said to be given John & Catherine’s when she married. Anyway, regardless of all that, it seems the best record & date for Elizabeth’s birth is May 30 1842 from the census & the year is confirmed by the grave marker.
Further confusing things is a letter from Sophia Jane Moreshead Cain dated 8-18-1907 supposedly copied verbatim from a letter originally given to her dau Helen Johnson from Sophia, and then passed on to Anna, Helen’s sister, and finally to Mary Silliker. The copy I have reads:“Dear Anna: – I am copying this just as mother sent it to me. –Helen” “My father’s name was John Moreshead. He was born in England in a place called Cornwall county Lue and came to this Island [PEI] when he was 12 years old. His father’s name was Nicholas Moreshead. He also was born in England. My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Hicks and she was born in England. My mother’s father was William Cummings. He was born in England. He came to Newfoundland and married Mary Eddie. My mother’s name was Catherine Cummings and she was born in Newfoundland and, with her father and mother, came to PEI when she was 9 years old. Father had five brothers: Daniel, Edward, Joseph, George and Nicholas. He had four sisters. They are all dead now but two sisters. Father was 79 years old when he died; mother was 95. I had six brothers: William, John, George, Nicholas, Edward and Joseph, and two sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Catherine. William, John, Nicholas and Mary are dead.”
It seems to me the “2” has likely been transcribed as a word incorrectly and it probably said “3”, Mary [comma] Elizabeth and Catherine”. This letter would have been written while Elizabeth was alive and no one just “forgets” a sister. It has always been a long standing family tradition that 2 daughters & 1 son of the same Vincent Family, married 2 sons & 1 daughter of the same Moreshead Family.
Elizabeth married William John Vincent [cxxi] son of Robert Charles Vincent and Mary Haywood of Tignish on Oct 15 1862 Bible Christian Church, West Devon who was born Mar 11 (no year – 1839?) in New London, PEI, bpt July 14, 1839 by Wiggins at the St. Marks Anglican in Kensington bk 2 pg 36[cxxii].
She died Oct 26, 1931 in O’Leary, age 89 and leaving 2 sons & 6 daughters. She was buried in W Devon United Cemetery, and her grave states Elizabeth Moreshead 1842-1931. His dates appear on the grace as 1839-1885. He died Nov 3, 1885 in a very bad mill accident.
Daily Examiner, Nov. 6, 1885, p. 2:
“A fatal boiler explosion occurred at Vincent’s Mill, West Devon, Lot 10, on Tuesday morning the 3rd instant, by which a young man named Lynch, was instantly killed and the owner of the mill, William Vincent, received injuries from which he has since died. What can be learned of the dreadful accident is as follows: Lynch was an inexperienced hand and undertook to run the engine. It is supposed that he had a heavy fire under the boiler, and that the boiler then only contained a small quantity of water. When it became heated he commenced to pour cold water into it. This caused a terrible explosion. The mill was completely demolished and Lynch’s body was massed into jelly, becoming totally unrecognizable.
Mr. Vincent’s shoulder, arm, upper and lower jaws were broken, and his skull was badly fractured. He only lived a short time after the accident. Two of Mr. Vincent’s sons and another boy just left the mill about two minutes before the explosion occurred. They had a narrow escape, as the splinters of the mill flew around them in all directions. Had they been in the mill they would all have been killed.
Two pieces of the boiler, weighing upward of 400 pounds, were carried 400 yards from the site of the mill. The explosion is the worst that ever took place in the west end of the Island.”Elizabeth Moreshead & William John Vincent had:i. Emmeline Catherine Vincent b. 1863[cxxiii] m: William LaGuff b. 1858[cxxiv]. He might have died before 1901[cxxv]. Children: William Robert Burness LaGuff[cxxvi] b. Sept 4 1881 bp Sep 17 1881 in O’Leary United, O’Leary, PEI bk1 pg97[cxxvii] m: Gertrude Goff[cxxviii] ; Harry LaGuff b. 1891[cxxix] ; Margaret Elizabeth LaGuff[cxxx] m: William Culleton – They had: Frank Garland Culleton b. Oct 7 1912 bpt Mar 12 1914[cxxxi] ; Harriet Jean Culleton b. May 17 1915 bp Jun 19 1915[cxxxii] ; Margaret Ruth Culleton b. Dec 11 1917 bp Aug 11 1918[cxxxiii]ii. Mary Haywood Vincent b. May 10 1864[cxxxiv] m: Samuel Graham b. Jan 5 1856[cxxxv]. Children: James Graham b. Dec 12 1882[cxxxvi] ; Herbert Graham b. Oct 17 1884[cxxxvii] ; William Graham b. Oct 14 1886[cxxxviii] ; Della Graham b. Nov 16 1892[cxxxix] ; Mary Graham b. Nov 1 1895[cxl] ; Hortense Graham b. 1901[cxli] m Preston Sellick[cxlii] ; Margaret [Elsie?] Graham[cxliii] m: Frank Oliver[cxliv] ; Samuel Graham[cxlv] m: Mary Lidstone & Olga Tuplin[cxlvi]iii. Elizabeth Adella “Delle” Vincent b: Feb 17 1867, bp Jun 23 1867 by J. Rice in United Church, O’Leary Bk 1 pg 62[cxlvii]. m: John Higgins[cxlviii]iv. Sophia Jane “Jennie” Vincent b. 1869[cxlix] m: Samuel Jenkins[cl]v. Henry A. Vincent b. 1871[cli].vi. William Robert Enoch Vincent b. Sept 15 1873 bpt Oct 26 1873 son of William John by J.G. Yelland United Church O’Leary bk 1 pg 75[clii] m: Laura Goff. Children: Reginald Vincent b. May 1898 [cliii], married but not sure to who, was a United Church Minister, drowned saving the life of a child[cliv]. ; John “Alton” Vincent b. Dec 1901[clv], married but not sure to who. Was studying to be a doctor but when his brother drowned, he decided to be a minister[clvi].; Hallet Raymond Vincent b. Aug 1906 [clvii] m: Minnie Jordan[clviii] ; Margaret Vincent (was adopted[clix]) m: Fred Woods[clx]vii. Leonora “Lona” Adeline Vincent b. Nov 13 1875, bpt Mar 26 1876 by Hohn J. Yelland United Church, O’Leary bk 1 pg 82[clxi] m: George Bernard[clxii]viii. Loretta V. “Lottie” Vincent m: William MacNeill She was b. Sep 5 1879 & he was b. Apr 8 1869[clxiii]. Children: Willard MacNeil b. Dec 10 1899[clxiv]- drowned in US[clxv] ; Otis MacNeil b. 1901[clxvi] married but not sure who, d before 1987[clxvii] ; Claude MacNeil b. 1903 [clxviii] m: Lila MacDonald d. before 1987[clxix] ; Minerva MacNeil b. 1905[clxx] ; Oscar MacNeil b. 1908[clxxi] m: Edna Palmer[clxxii] ; Dorothy MacNeil b. 1913[clxxiii] m: Jack Foley[clxxiv] ; Edwin MacNeil b. 1915[clxxv] m: Mary Moreshead, who was Hut’s adopted daughter[clxxvi] ; Pearle MacNeil b. 1917[clxxvii] m: Cleveland MacPhee[clxxviii] ; Eric MacNeil b.1920[clxxix] m: Wanda MacNevin[clxxx]ix. Margaret Lorenda May “Lin” Vincent b. Feb 1 1881 bpt Oct 31 1881 by W. Bryenton United Church O’Leary bk 1 pg 97[clxxxi]. m: ______Fairweather[clxxxii]x. Johnnie Vincent b. 1884[clxxxiii] d. 1902[clxxxiv]

9. Catherine Caroline Morshed was born on Jun 8 1849, and was baptized Aug 11 1849 by F. Metherall at the United Church in O’Leary[ccxciii]. Catherine- married Dr. James Shaw of England[ccxciv]. This marriage is said to be recorded in the Examiner on page 3, July 27 1868. She died on Jul 14 1912 age 64 per her grave marker in West Devon which she shares with Dr. James Shaw who died on Jan 26 1889 age 67. This family is compiled from the 1987 Moreshead Reunion notes. Children of Dr. James Shaw & Catherine Moreshead were: i. Herb Shaw m: Dorcas Costain (Both buried at West Devon) ii. Laura Shaw m: William Meggisoniii. Elmer Shaw m: Verna Foley iv. Oliver Shaw m: Bessie Culletonv. Belinda Shaw m: Jack Meggisonvi. Edgar Shaw m: Elizabeth Loughvii. Joseph Shaw m: Bertha Dickie of Summersideviii. Janie Shaw m: Presley Barbour of Alberton; lived in USix. Eliza Shaw m: Oliver White of Alberton x. Mary Ann Shaw m: John Harris of Summersidexi. Emma Shaw m: Parmenous MacArthur of Elmsdale

10. Sophia Jane Moreshed was born on Apr 13 1852, and was baptized May 20 1852 by F. Metherall in the United Church of O’Leary[ccxcv]. She died in1922 per her grave in West Devon. Sophia married Benjamin F. Cain Cane Kane[ccxcvi]. son of John Cain Cane Kane and Catherine McDonald. Benjamin was born in Apr 1845 and died 1917. Mr. Kane supervised the building of W Devon United Church and they are buried in the cemetery. On the 1881 Canadian Census they are recorded on Lot 8. Alice states in her notes that “Sophia was the youngest”; and “The following dates are taken from the Family Bible her father gave her on Sept 20, 1870 which was her wedding day, and from the headstones.Benjamin F. Cain & Sophia Jane Moreshead had: i. Catherine Cummings Cain b. Sep 30 1871 m: David Monroe, settled in Springfield, MA both died in Mass – I have recently been contacted by a descendant through the comments section and thought I would share her comment here, so that it won’t be missed by others: “While they did live for a period in Massachusetts, they moved to Oregon, and are buried in Rest Haven Memorial Park, Eugene, OR. I don’t know if you have this already, but Catherine Cain’s sister, and Sophia Jane’s daughter, dictated a wonderful story which was then turned into an article for “True West” magazine (June 1980 issue), titled “Pa was a Fiddlefoot”, about the time that Benjamin Cain (Kane) picked up the family from their place on PEI, and traveled westward along the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon, all the way to west coast of the US. Eventually, they moved back to the island, but not after leaving an indeliable impression on the kids. As an married adult, Catherine and her husband David Monroe moved to OR, where they lived out the rest of their lives.” ii. Minnie Edith Cain b. Sep 2 1873 d. 5y of Diptheria & is buried in Cape Wolfe iii. Margaret Ellen Cain b. Jan 4 1875 d. 1972 in US iv. Frederick William Cain b. Oct 19 1880 born & died in US v. John Keir Cain/Kane b. Mar 7 1883 born & died in US vi. Ada Birtice Cain b. Aug 1 1885 m: George Chisholm b. Apr 1 1874 m: Sep 12 1904. He died Jun 10 1935 & is buried with sons Kenneth & Leslie in West Devon. Children: Kenneth Chisholm – never married ; Mable Chisholm m: Fred Cook She is buried in US ; Leslie Chisholm m: Maria Van Laarhoven in Holland ; Vera Chisholm m: Lloyd Dalton
vii. Mary Ann Cain b. Nov 1887 m: ____ Silliker b. & d. in US
viii. Susan Pheland Cain b. Feb 8 1889 in Sprinfield, MA m: James McCabe. She died at 27y &is buried in Alberton.ix. George Harold Cain b. Oct 4 1894 in Springfield, MA d. 1905. He is buried in West Devon
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Great Granddaughter of John & Catherine11. Georgia Edith Moreshead b. Jan 30 1893 in West Devon m: Carl Martin Morgan in ME Jun 7 1920 double ceremony w/ brother Clarence & his wife, sister of Carl. Carl was b. Feb 14 1898, son of George Emmons Morgan & Margaret Oldridge/Auldridge. They had 1 son & 3 daughters born in the 1920’s, removed to Cape Elizabeth, ME about 1948 & retired in Florida[ccxcvii].
I have a copy of an essay she wrote prior to 1964 titled “Here’s to your Ancestors”.
Apparently, accordingly to another note I have, it upset someone of an earlier generation, although I can’t really fathom why – except that times were different then and “sharing family business” was a no-no, that said, it’s not going to stop me from including it here – everyone is long gone & it’s amusingly honest which I commend Georgia for:The Moresheads came to this continent from Devonshire, England, many years ago. They sailed up a little river on Prince Edward Island, stopped there and settled, and called West Devon. They were names like Vincents, Ashtons, Culletons. One Moreshead [Joseph Moreshead, son of John & Catherine] married a woman named Ashton (a very tall family), and they had a big farm and had 12 children. I visited that farm when I was 9 years old and remember it well. It had a big 2 1/2 story house and big barns, well-stocked with animals. One son [John Ashton Moreshead] married a girl named Idella Jane Tucker. She came from a place up near Summerside called Bedeque. Her people were in the tailoring business. Her mother died when she was 9 years old. She had a sister, Martha and a brother, Leslie. Her father married again, a cousin of his first wife, named Gamble, and she is the only one I remember as a grandmother. She was a big woman, redheaded. My own grandmother had dark curly hair. She was a slight, gentlewoman. This couple [John & Idella] ran a store West Devon until they came to Portland, Maine when I was two years old. My father did various jobs– sold insurance, etc. Then he bought a grocery store and ran that for many years. Having a brother who it got mixed up in the Silver Fox business in PEI, (my uncle Henry), my father too got mixed up in it, and they built the Fox farm in Freeport and put my brother Raymond on it to run it. (We never did get a fox fur–the war ended that.) I had six brothers Raymond, Clarence, Elmer, Chester, Everett Clayton (who died when a small child), and then John Everett the last boy. There were three of us girls Georgia, Idella Gertrude, and Beverly Ruth. Ruth was a beautiful pianist. She studied in New York City, but her eyes got quite bad and she could not teach music, which she had intended to do. She got married and brought up three children before she died. One of my father’s sisters [Carrie] married a man from Nova Scotia, a McCleave. They had several children. Two girls went to New York City and became graduate nurses. One son, a lawyer, was killed in World War I in a famous Canadian Regiment in France. Another became a lawyer, prominent Canada politics. Upon returning from some important trip, he got poisoned on the train (by the food) and died. I had written to when he was at Dalhousie College in Halifax during the war at the time of a terrible explosion there. Another son became a lawyer also and was in the Parliament of Canada. I believe he married a girl from New York. He lives in Halifax. You have heard me speak of Aunt Georgia, for whom I was named. She did not pass on to me her marvelous powers of spiritualism and ability to foresee the future, by the way. She had two children Harris and Helen. My father’s brother [Hudson] married my mother’s sister [Mattie/Martha]. They lived in Portland for some time. Then when [my] Grandpa Moreshead [Joseph] was dying, Uncle Hudson returned to PEI and took over the farms etc. They had no children, but later adopted a girl Mary, who is a good daughter to them and take good care of them in their old age. They both died and a sister, Sadie Leeman took over [the farm]. Two other brothers died from tuberculosis. Henry married a rich woman, (his first wife died), and they moved to Nova Scotia, where he died some years ago. Aunt Sadie did have a place in Orlando and a home in Cambridge, Mass. I would not know more than that. After she goes, I shall be the oldest Moreshead here. There are still plenty of relatives on PEI who I admit to the fact! Aunt Sadie got mixed up with a millionaire fox (silver fox) man, but his wife was stubborn and refused to give him a divorce. She ran a small hotel in Summerside. She had lost her own husband and later married in Italian man and had another big house in Cambridge–14 rooms, so I heard. She must be 80 years old by now; she was a bit lame like Grandpa Moreshead was. We lived near my father’s grocery store for a while and then we (my father) bought a house out in Deering,- 47 Ray St. He built a barn and we even had a cow and chickens. My father was a tall, thin, nervous man. I was the only girl for so long I had almost given up ever having a sister, then Ella, (Idella Gertrude) and Ruth came along– then Everett was the last. I was the first Moreshead to go to high school. After I graduated, my mother was not well, so my father and she decided that I should stay home and help with the housework. I wanted to study nursing, but I did learn much that was good for me. When World War I came along, my brothers Clarence & Elmer, when off to war. I went into the store to help my father. Before then, I had taken a small school for lobster fisherman’s children down at Cundy’s Harbor, Maine, beyond Bowdoin College, and taught there for a while. Carl and I spent our honeymoon down there later in a tent. We went down the bay in his old motorboat with Clarence and Sadie (double wedding) and picked out a spot to tent and lived on lobsters. While I was in the store helping my father, Carl Morgan came home from France. He had been there for two years with the Yankee Division. He had not seen too many girls, so I had a head start. We got married June 7, 1920.”